I chuckle. “You’re a hard worker. This is all you.”
“Thanks, Magma. I appreciate you being so supportive.”
“Are you kidding? I feel like a proud old man, as the humans would say, even though I’m not old enough to be your father.”
The traffic thins on the expressway. I pull into the left lane.
This transition is entirely the right move for his career, and I am genuinely glad about it. I’m going to miss him.
“Snare will be fine,” Flint says, like he’s reading me.
“I know he will.”
“He’s solid, has good instincts, and the team respects him.”
“You don’t need to sell him to me. I know all of that. It’s why I asked him to fill in for you.” I glance over.
“Then what’s the face for?”
“I don’t have a face.”
“You absolutely have a face. It’s not a permanent move,” Flint says. “I want to be clear about that. A few months, maybe. I help them get the rogue management and integration structure up and running, and then I come back. I’ve told Snare not to get too comfortable. He knows the position is more than likely temporary.”
“And if the long-term role at Mistveil comes through?”
He gives a small shrug. “I’ll make a decision then. Right now, it is a few months. Don’t start building a universe around the worst-case scenario.”
“I don’t dislike change,” I say. “I just take time to adjust to it, that’s all.”
He makes a sound of agreement.
I change lanes again to catch the exit. “It’s going to make my job easier, if you want the truth. Having Security Central embedded in their structure properly, with someone I trust running the coordination. It takes a significant problem off my desk.”
“And that right there,” he nods, “is the right way to think about it.” He laughs. “You’ll be fine without me.”
We hit the traffic lights before the departure turnoff, and I slow down. The rain from the weekend is gone and the morning is warm and clear.
“Besides, I’m back in two weeks,” Flint says. “I’ll be on Draig soil on a regular basis. This is home.”
“Good.” I nod a few times.
“And when I’m here, you and I are going for a beer.” He gives me a look.
“Sounds good.”
“You are buying.”
I laugh. “Sure thing. Although you might be a little busy since you’ll no doubt be spending whatever free time you have with Carla. Talking about Carla, how did it go on Saturday?”
I’ve been dying to ask him since he arrived this morning. I know I’m prying, but I can’t help it.
“We had a really great time.”
Jealousy eats at me. I have to grit my teeth for a moment until the worst of it passes.
“That’s good to hear and exactly my point. You’ll need to spend all your time on Draig Island with Carla if it’s going to work. Beers with me is not as important.”
“We agreed that a long-distance relationship was not the answer. We’ll be in touch, and we might go out again but…it won’t be anything serious.”
